Karen Bennett-Clayton
Partner
-
Queen’s Marque
600-1741 Lower Water Street
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 0J2 - +1.902.420.3377
- +1.902.496.6181
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Language(s) spoken: English
Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 2001
Legal Assistant(s): Kristen Petrikowski
Providing legal services through a professional corporation.
Karen works with her clients primarily in the areas of health law and insurance on a range of issues, including defending professional liability claims and third party liability claims.
Notable decisions Karen has been involved in include:
- Graca v Carter, 2024 NSSC 225
- Foran v Malek, 2023 NSSC 29
- Gushue v Nova Scotia Health Authority, 2022 NSSC 346
- Robicheau v Prescott, 2020 NSSC 295
- Sorenson v. Swinemar – 2020 NSCA 62 – 2020-10-02
- Y. v. Swinemar, 2020 NSCA 56 – 2020-09-04
- Y v. Swinemar, 2020 NSSC 225 – 2020-08-14
- Delano v. Gendron, 2019 NSCA 32 – 2019-04-26
- Capital District Health Authority v. Murray, 2017 NSCA 28 – 2017-04-13
- Bruce v. Munroe, 2016 NSSC 341 – 2016-12-20
- Linden Estate v CUMIS Life Insurance Company, 2015 NSCA 20
- Linden Estate v CUMIS Life Insurance Company, 2014 NSSC 115
- Sable Mary Seismic Inc. v Geophysical Service Inc. 2012 NSCA 33
- McIntosh v Isaac Walton Killam-Grace Health Centre 2011 NSSC 260
- McKeough v Miller 2009 NSCC 394
- Sable Mary Seismic Inc. v Geophysical Service Inc. 2008 NSCA 83
Education & Career
Education
Brunel University, London, England, LLB (honours), 1999
Dalhousie University, BA, 1991
Activities
Board Member and Executive Committee, Canadian Mental Health Association – Nova Scotia Division, 2024 – present
Co-chair, Stewart McKelvey students committee, 2016 – 2018
Member, Stewart McKelvey students committee, 2014 – 2018
Member, Ad Idem, Canadian Media Lawyers Association, 2001 – present
Chair, Citizenship & Immigration Law Section, Canadian Bar Association, 2005 – 2007
Vice-chair, Citizenship & Immigration Law Section, Canadian Bar Association, 2004 – 2005
Part-time lecturer, Civil Trial Practice, Dalhousie Law School, 2006
Board member, Ronald McDonald House Atlantic, 2013 – 2017
Board member, Capital Health Research Ethics Board, 2015 – 2017
Mentor, Dalhousie Women and the Law Mentorship Program
Mentor, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Mentorship Program
Member, Nova Scotia Medical-Legal Society
Accolades
Benchmark Canada, local litigation star (Defamation, Media and Entertainment), 2015 – 2016
Benchmark Canada, local litigation star (Defamation, Media, Entertainment, Professional Liability), 2017 – 2022
Lexpert rating: Medical Negligence, 2016 – 2025
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Presentations
Presenter, “A Peek Behind the Scenes: How Actuarial Opinions are Used in the Pre-trial Settlement Process” – Canadian Institute of Actuaries, Actuarial Evidence Seminar, October 2025
Presenter, “Virtual Health Care: Practical Implications”, Canadian Bar Association Health Law Summit – Critical Issues in Canadian Health Law, May 2023
Panelist on Immigration in the Context of P3 Projects, “Private Players in Public Infrastructure: Construction in the P3 Context”, Canadian Bar Association Construction and Infrastructure Law Conference, October 2018
Co-presenter, “Journalism and the Law (how to write the story without getting sued)”, Atlantic Journalism Awards Workshop, April 2018
Presenter, “Immigration Update – Key Opportunities and Risks for Employers”, Stewart McKelvey In-House Counsel Professional Development Day, April 2017
Presenter, “Point of Impact: The Intersection of Claims and Technology”, Canadian Independent Adjusters Association Annual Conference, September 2016
Presenter, “Documentation Through the Legal Lens”, Labrador Grenfell Health Nursing Webinar, May 2016
Panelist, “Jurisdictional and Choice of Law Issues”, Canadian Media Lawyers Association annual conference, November 2015
Presenter, “Risk Management – Paramedic Litigation in Nova Scotia”, Cape Breton Paramedic Conference, September 2014
Presenter, “Complying with the new Personal Health Information Act“, Stewart McKelvey In-House Counsel Professional Development Day, April 2014
Presenter, “Social Media in the Workplace”, Women in Leadership Conference, May 2013
Presenter, “Dealing with Social Media Issues: A Day in the Life of Stews News”, Stewart McKelvey In-House Counsel Professional Development Day, September 2012
Presenter, E&O Loss Control Seminar, Insurance Brokers Association of Nova Scotia (IBANS), October 2010
Presenter, “Commercial Host Liability”, Nova Scotia Insurance Women’s Association (NSIWA), November 2008
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